Britain was a shambles at the time of the Vikings, but quickly and uniquely built a financial, technical, and political infrastructure that kept our sailors healthy and our ships at sea for long periods. With Napoleon defeated and the Industrial Revolution in full swing, the role of the Royal Navy was changing rapidly when ‘Beagle’ was launched at Woolwich in 1820. The focus had moved from making war to suppressing piracy, discouraging the slave trade, and charting the oceans.
Beagle’s most famous voyage brought together Robert Fitzroy, a brilliant sailor and pioneering meteorologist, whose name is commemorated in the sea area Fitzroy, and Charles Darwin who was to stagger the world with his book on Natural Selection, published at a time when most people in this country believed in the Book of Genesis.
Graham Anthony weaves these events into a story to show how CA members enjoy a nautical infrastructure that allows us to roam the seas happily and safely.
Individual lecture tickets: Members £4.00; Non-members £7.00
Season tickets available - contact Secretariat for details
Lectures and talks start promptly at 19:00hrs